hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Murphy's Irish Stout

Tap to rate

Brewed at Lady's Well in Cork since 1856 and served under nitrogen, which gives a dense tan head and a still, almost uncarbonated body. Roasted barley and chocolate malt carry the flavour: coffee grounds and mocha on the nose, then dark chocolate, toffee and well-fired toast across a silky medium body. The roast stays gentle and the close turns to molasses and toast rather than hop bite, which is what separates it from the drier stouts of the same tradition.

ABV
4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark35
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Gold Medal · 1892
Brewers and Allied Trades Exhibition
Gold Medal · 2002
International Brewing Awards
Best Imported Beer · 2011
Beer & Brewers Awards
Best Imported Beer · 2012
Beer & Brewers Awards
Best Imported Beer · 2013
Beer & Brewers Awards
★Gold Medal — Brewers and Allied Trades Exhibition
★Gold Medal — International Brewing Awards
★Best Imported Beer — Beer & Brewers Awards
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedchocolatecoffee
roasted
chocolate
coffee
toasty
malty
caramel
Aroma
The nose leads with prominent coffee grounds and mocha characteristics, backed by the earthy sweetness of roasted barley.
also:dark fruit
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Murphy's Irish Stout

◎ Appearance

Deep ebony black body with exceptional clarity and a hallmark dense, tan head created by nitrogen service. The head retention is excellent, clinging to the glass with a creamy, almost velvet-like persistence that defines the style. The still, uncarbonated body delivers a sophisticated visual presentation.

ebony blackdense tan headcreamynitrogen-served

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with prominent coffee grounds and mocha characteristics, backed by the earthy sweetness of roasted barley. Dark chocolate and well-fired toast notes emerge on further inspection, creating a complex yet harmonious aromatic profile that avoids excessive roast harshness.

coffee groundsmochadark chocolateroasted barley

◐ Taste

The palate opens with rich dark chocolate and toffee sweetness, transitioning through a silky medium body with prominent toasty, well-fired grain character. The roast remains restrained and refined rather than aggressive, allowing molasses and caramel notes to shine in the mid-palate without significant hop bitterness.

dark chocolatetoffeemolassessilky smooth

◑ Finish

The finish gracefully transitions from toast and roast to subtle molasses sweetness, with minimal hop bite characteristic of this gentler interpretation of Irish dry stout. The aftertaste lingers gently, leaving pleasant malt and caramel notes rather than harsh dryness.

maltysweet finishlingering caramel
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
84
Appearance
86
Finish
80
Serve at 10–14°C

Slightly warmer than you might expect. 10–13°C lets the roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes open up fully.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink within a year. Standard stouts are best fresh but hold reasonably well for 6–12 months.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Murphy's Irish Stout

More from Lady's Well Brewery

Beamish Irish Stout
Murphy's Irish Red

About Irish Dry Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Irish Dry Stout?

Stouts are dark ales with roasted barley character, 4–8% ABV and IBU 25–45. Expect coffee, dark chocolate and toast flavors with a creamy body and dry finish.

Finding a similar Irish Dry Stout

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, chocolate, coffee character as Murphy's Irish Stout will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

FEATURED IN

Compare with another beer →